Clipboard



Aug. 22, 1961 c. o. su1ToN 2,996,774

( lll" H50) Unit-@d i 2,996,774 CLIPBOARD Charles 0. Sutton, San Francisco, Calif., assigner to The American Binder Company of California, a corpora- 4tion of California Filed Nov. 7, 1958, Ser. No. 772,4964

2 Claims. (Cl. Z4-66)A y This application is a continuation-impart of application Serial No. 340,801 filed March 6, 1953.

This invention relates to a heavyduty paper clip and more particularly relates to a' paper clip mounted upon a board to provide a structure commonlyv known as a clipboard.

Clipboards are well-known and consist of a piece of board of suitable size lto form a writing surface with a clip at the top thereof to hold one or more sheets of paper. Such boards have an operating handle which must ordinarily be so large to operate the heavy clip that it prevents the clipboard from being carried in a brief case.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a paper clip for use on a clipboard wherein the paper clip is relatively flat, so that the clipboard may be easily carried in Ia brief case or binder.

Another object of this invention is to provide a paper clip for use on a clipboard wherein the clip is of smooth configuration and has no projections beyond the edge of the board on which it is mounted.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a lpaper clip for use on a clipboard wherein an easy means is provided for hanging the board on a wall.

A further object of this invention is to provide a heavy duty clipboard having a folding handle whereby the handle can be swung easily to operating position.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a handle for a clip having means for retaining the handle in a desired position.

ln the drawings forming a part of this specification:

FIGURE 1 is a plan View of the clip of the present invention mounted on a clipboard, the board being shortened for ease of illustra-tion.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the clip of the present invention in a closed position.

FIGURE 3 is a. side elevation of the clip of the present invention showing the handle extended and the clip opened.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view on the lines 4-4 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view embracing part of FIGURE 1.

Referring now to the drawings by reference characters, there is shown a clip having a base section 6, which is secured by suitable rivets 8 on a base board 10. The base 6 terminates in an upturned longitudinal edge 12 which acts as a stop or guide for papers inserted in the clip when the latter is open. On the base 6, opposite the upturned edge, spaced ears 14 are provided, these being bent securely about a hinge pin 16 and fitting snugly against the upper surface of the board 10. A jaw member 18 is mounted by ears 22, each bent securely about the ends of the hinge pin 16 and which extends beyond the ears 14. A coiled spring 26 -is mounted on the hinge pin 16 with one end 28 fitting in a slight recess in the jaw member and with its other end 30 fitting on the underside of the base member in a slight recess. The jaw member includes a first planar portion 41 extending upwardly and forwardly from the hinge pin to an elevation slightly above that of the upturned longitudinal edge 12 of the base member so that the jaw member ts closely over this edge when the clip is secured on a board. The jaw memher also includes a second planar portion 42 which extends from the forward edge of the irst planar portion;

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2 t the second planar portion 42 extends forwardly and down'-l wardly to a paperrgripping edge 20 which grips paper against board 10 under the bias of spring 26. The ends 24 of ridge 43, providing the junction of the first and second planar portions, are bent downwardly to provide smooth ends on the jaw member.

Mounted on the second planar portion of the jaw 18 is an enlongated strip of metal 34, riveted at one end to the second planar portion 42 by a rivet 36, and so providing ya moveable handle. Under the rivet 36 a small dat piece of spring steel 38 is bowed, as `is shown, to retain the handle 34 in `any position in which the handle is placed; -the spring is of sutlicient resiliency so that the handle may be easily swung into any desired position by placing a slight pressure thereon. Between the handle 34 and the jaw is a liber Washer 45, which prevents the handle from scraping the jaw and makes the handle easier to work. The liber washer 45 is combined with the spring 38 to insure that .the handle will not Work loose in service.

To prevent the handle 34 from being shifted in the wrong direction, a stop 46 is provided. The stop 46 is made by bending a portion of the jaw upwards.

Preferably, the handle 34 is provided with a downwardly extending dimple 48 and a mating hole 50 is provided in the member 42. Thus, when the handle 34 is placed parallel to the member 42, the dimple engages in the hole and the handle is held firmly in place, yet the handle can easily be dislodged when desired.

I claim:

1. A clip adapted to be secured to a baseboard to pro vide a clipboard, said clip including a base member having one longitudinal terminal edge portion thereof extending upwardly with respect to Ka baseboard when -attached thereto and transversely of said baseboard to tact `as a stop for papers held by the lclip on said baseboard, said edge describing, when attached to a baseboard, an `angle no greater than with said baseboard, said base member having a second longitudinal edge portion rolled over .to provide two spaced ears fitting against a baseboard when attached thereto, a hinge pin extending through said ears with the end of said pin extending on each side of the said ears, a single coiled spring mounted on the hinge pin 'between the said two ears and having one end engaged with the base member, a jaw member having spaced ears `at each end thereof mounted on the extending ends of .the hinge pin, the other end of the coiled spring being engaged with the jaw member and biasing the jaw member into a baseboard-engaging position, said jaw member having a iirst portion extending upwardly yand forwardly from the said hinge pin to an elevation above but approximating that of the said upstanding longitudinal portion of the said base member, said jaw member having a second portion extending forwardly over the stop provided by said longitudinal terminal edge of said base member and downwardly to a paper gripping edge engaging a. baseboard beyond said stop when yattached to a baseboard, a at handle mounted on said second portion near one end of said second portion of said jaw member, a rivet passing through one end of said handle for mount- 'ing said handle, said handle overlying only the said second portion of said jaw member when in a normal position under the iniiuence of said coiled spring, the said base member having a pair of ears Iat either end thereof extending in opposite directions from the said base member, the said ears being at, lying in the same plane as the said base member and having Iat least a single hole in each for the receipt of rivets whereby to provide means for securing the said base portion to a baseboard, the ears being suticiently long that the said holes in the said ears are exposed at either side of the said jaw member when the said clip is viewed from above, the said second portion of the said jaw member having a raised stop near the center thereof whereby said handle can be swung upwardly but is prevented from being swung downwardly.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the said handle is pmvidedV witha ber Washer between the Said handle and the saidsecond portion ofthe said jaw member and a,V 11a-t, normally bowed., metal springl member underlying, said rivet and contacting said, second I )orti'onv of said jaw whereby tension is maintained under said rivet `and on the said handle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Trussell Sept. 13, 1910 Hulse May- 27, 1924 Woodruff Nov. 20, 1934 Great Britain 1898 Great Britain 1893 Great Britain 1906 Greatv Britain Mar. 10, 1930 Great Britain Mar. 5, 1931 Great Britain May 28, 1952 France Nov. 30, 1940 France Sept. 15, 1941 France Mar. 17, 1954 

